Independent watchdog needed for road development<\/p>\n
Bambang Nurbianto, The Jakarta Post, Jakarta<\/p>\n
The corruption that has infected the Public Works Agency and
\ncontractors necessitates an independent watchdog to monitor the
\ndevelopment of roads in the capital, an expert said on Monday.<\/p>\n
The chairman of the University of Indonesia's Center for
\nTransportation Studies, Sutanto Soehodho, said an independent
\nwatchdog was needed because the control mechanisms currently in
\nplace had proved ineffective.<\/p>\n
\"Nearly all of the roads (in the city) are of poor quality. We
\nneed an independent watchdog to avoid such poor quality,\" Sutanto
\ntold The Jakarta Post.<\/p>\n
The Jakarta Public Works Agency has appointed 20 companies to
\nrepair some 22,250 square meters of flood damaged roads in the
\ncity. The agency awarded the contracts with first holding a
\ntender.<\/p>\n
The city has allocated over Rp 118 billion to repair damaged
\nroads across the city. This money also will be used to fix the
\ndrainage systems for the roads.<\/p>\n
Amin Tjakraamidjaja, the head of the road section at the
\nagency, said his office did not use a tender because the repairs
\nhad to be completed immediately and the tender would have
\nrequired time.<\/p>\n
Amin said Jakarta Governor Sutiyoso approved the agency's
\ndecision to appoint the companies without the benefit of a
\ntender.<\/p>\n
According to Sutanto, who is also the chairman of the
\nUniversity of Indonesia's Department of Civil Engineering, the
\ndevelopment of roads in the city cannot be effectively monitored
\nbecause this falls under the responsibility of the Public Works
\nAgency, whose officials also act as project leaders.<\/p>\n
To maintain its independence, Sutanto said the proposed
\nindependent road development watchdog should not include
\nofficials of the Public Works Agency or contractors involved in
\nthe construction of roads.<\/p>\n
\"The members of the independent watchdog should be independent
\nexperts who are able to make independent scientific assessments,\"
\nhe said, adding that the members could be drawn from the world of
\nacademia.<\/p>\n
Sutanto added that the watchdog also could exert direct
\ncontrol over road development by engaging in such activities as
\nreporting road damage.<\/p>\n
\"If people see damaged roads in their areas that were only
\nrepaired a few months earlier, they can file a protest with the
\nrelated agencies and the contractors will fix the problem,\" he
\nsaid.<\/p>\n
Sutanto said an independent watchdog would prevent any
\ncollusion between officials of the Public Works Agency and
\ncontractors. Such collusion is believed to be to blame for much
\nof the poor quality roads in the city.<\/p>\n
As an example, he said drainage systems, which are vital in
\nthe construction of roads, did not function properly in nearly
\nall sections of road in Jakarta.<\/p>\n
\"It is fatal if roads do not have a good drainage system
\nbecause water is the main enemy of roads, particularly asphalt
\nones,\" said Sutanto.<\/p>\n
\"This can be seen in many areas in Greater Jakarta. The road
\nconnecting Serpong-Bumi Serpong Damai and BSD-Cikokol in
\nTangerang, Banten, is one example.\"<\/p>",
"url": "https:\/\/jawawa.id\/newsitem\/independent-watchdog-needed-for-road-development-1447893297",
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"sponsor": "Okusi Associates",
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